2013 Ventura County Building Code (PDF)

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VENTURA COUNTY
BUILDING CODE
2013 EDITION
Ventura County Ordinance

Compiled by
THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY
DIVISION OF BUILDING AND SAFETY

Ventura
800 South Victoria Avenue,
Ventura, CA 93009
(805) 654-2771
East County
3855-F Alamo, Rm. 2019-A
Simi Valley, CA 93065
(805) 582-8064

The Ventura County Building Code, as shown herewith, is a
compilation of the following ordinances adopted by the
Ventura County Board of Supervisors.
Ordinance no.

Effective date

3773

June 19, 1986

3778

July 31, 1986

3904

August 11, 1989

4002

August 14, 1992

4130

June 12, 1997

4188

July 15, 1999

4274

December 5, 2002

4369

January 1, 2008

4422

January 1, 2011

4456

January 9, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 ............................................................................................................................................................. - 9 CHAPTER 1 .............................................................................................................................................. - 9 SECTION 101 VENTURA COUNTY BUILDING CODE DEFINED. ..................................... - 9 SECTION 102 ADMINISTRATION. ....................................................................................... - 10 Section 103. FILING WITH THE CLERK OF THE BOARD. ................................................ - 10 104. COPIES OF CODE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC. ........................................................ - 10 CHAPTER 2 - ADOPTION OF THE ...................................................................................................... - 11 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE (CRC) ....................................................................................... - 11 SECTION 101 - ADOPTION. ................................................................................................... - 11 SECTION 102 - AMENDMENTS. ........................................................................................... - 11 CHAPTER 3 - ADOPTION OF THE ...................................................................................................... - 12 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE (CBC) .............................................................................................. - 12 SECTION 101 - ADOPTION. ................................................................................................... - 12 SECTION 102 - AMENDMENTS. ........................................................................................... - 12 CHAPTER 4 - ADOPTION OF THE ...................................................................................................... - 13 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE (CEC) ......................................................................................... - 13 SECTION 101 - ADOPTION. ................................................................................................... - 13 SECTION 102 - AMENDMENTS. ........................................................................................... - 13 CHAPTER 5 - ADOPTION OF THE ...................................................................................................... - 14 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE (CMC) ...................................................................................... - 14 SECTION 101 - ADOPTION. ................................................................................................... - 14 SECTION 102 - AMENDMENTS. ........................................................................................... - 14 CHAPTER 6 - ADOPTION OF THE ...................................................................................................... - 15 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE (CPC) ............................................................................................. - 15 SECTION 101 - ADOPTION. ................................................................................................... - 15 SECTION 102 - AMENDMENTS. ........................................................................................... - 15 CHAPTER 7 - ADOPTION OF THE ...................................................................................................... - 16 UNIFORM HOUSING CODE (UHC)..................................................................................................... - 16 SECTION 101 - ADOPTION. ................................................................................................... - 16 SECTION 102 - AMENDMENTS. ........................................................................................... - 16 CHAPTER 8 - ADOPTION OF THE UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ...................................................... - 17 ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS (DBC) ....................................................................... - 17 SECTION 101 - ADOPTION. ................................................................................................... - 17 SECTION 102 - AMENDMENTS. ........................................................................................... - 17 CHAPTER 9 - ADOPTION OF APPENDIX CHAPTER A1 OF THE................................................... - 18 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE (CEBC) ........................................................................ - 18 SECTION 101 – ADOPTION. .................................................................................................. - 18 SECTION 102 – AMENDMENTS............................................................................................ - 18 ARTICLE 2 - AMENDMENTS OF GENERAL APPLICATION TO ALL OF ............................................ - 19 THE ADOPTED STATE AND MODEL CODES ............................................................................................. - 19 CHAPTER 1 ............................................................................................................................................ - 19 Division II – SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................... - 19 SECTION 101 – GENERAL ..................................................................................................... - 19 SECTION 102 – APPLICABILITY .......................................................................................... - 21 SECTION 103 – ORGANIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT ................................................. - 21 SECTION 104 – POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL ......................... - 22 SECTION 105 – PERMITS ....................................................................................................... - 24 SECTION 105.2 EXEMPTED WORK ..................................................................................... - 26 SECTION 106 – FLOOR AND ROOF DESIGN LOADS ........................................................ - 30 SECTION 107 – CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS ............................................................... - 30 SECTION 107.6 – PERMIT ISSUANCE .................................................................................. - 33 SECTION 108 – TEMPORARY STRUCTURES AND USES ................................................ - 34 SECTION 109 – FEES .............................................................................................................. - 34 -3-

109.4 INVESTIGATION FEES: WORK WITHOUT PERMIT .............................................. - 35 SECTION 110 – INSPECTIONS .............................................................................................. - 36 SECTION 111 – CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ............................................................... - 38 SECTION 112 – SERVICE UTILITIES ................................................................................... - 39 SECTION 113 – BOARDS OF APPEALS ............................................................................... - 39 SECTION 114 – VIOLATIONS................................................................................................ - 40 SECTION 115 – STOP WORK ORDER .................................................................................. - 44 SECTION 116 – UNSAFE STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT ............................................ - 45 ARTICLE 3 - AMENDMENTS TO THE ............................................................................................... - 47 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE (CRC) ....................................................................................... - 47 SECTION R327 - MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR
EXTERIOR WILDFIRE EXPOSURE ........................................................................ - 47 SECTION R401 – GENERAL .................................................................................................. - 47 SECTION R403 - FOOTINGS .................................................................................................. - 48 SECTION R404 - FOUNDATION AND RETAINING WALLS ............................................. - 48 SECTION R802 - WOOD ROOF FRAMING .......................................................................... - 48 SECTION R902 – ROOF CLASSIFICATION ......................................................................... - 49 SECTION R1001 – MASONRY FIREPLACES ....................................................................... - 49 ARTICLE 4 - AMENDMENTS TO THE .......................................................................................................... - 50 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE (CBC) ......................................................................................................... - 50 CHAPTER 2 - DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................ - 50 SECTION 200 – AMENDMENTS............................................................................................ - 50 SECTION 201 – GENERAL ..................................................................................................... - 50 SECTION 202 – Definitions ...................................................................................................... - 50 CHAPTER 7A.......................................................................................................................................... - 53 MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR ..................................................................... - 53 EXTERIOR WILDFIRE EXPOSURE .................................................................................................... - 53 SECTION 701A – SCOPE, PURPOSE AND APPLICATION ................................................ - 53 SECTION 702A - DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................ - 53 SECTION 704A – IGNITION RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION ............................................. - 53 SECTION 705A – ROOFING ................................................................................................... - 53 SECTION 706A - VENTILATION OPENINGS ...................................................................... - 54 CHAPTER 15 .......................................................................................................................................... - 55 ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES ....................................................................... - 55 SECTION 1505 – FIRE CLASSIFICATION ............................................................................ - 55 CHAPTER 16 .......................................................................................................................................... - 56 STRUCTURAL DESIGN ........................................................................................................................ - 56 SECTION 1613 – EARTHQUAKE LOADS ............................................................................ - 56 Section 1613.8 Seismic Design Provisions for Hillside Buildings ............................................ - 56 CHAPTER 17 .......................................................................................................................................... - 63 STRUCTURAL TESTS AND SPECIAL INSPECTIONS ...................................................................... - 63 SECTION 1704 – SPECIAL INSPECTIONS ........................................................................... - 63 CHAPTER 18 .......................................................................................................................................... - 64 SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS ................................................................................................................ - 64 SECTION 1803 GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS ........................................................ - 64 SECTION 1805 – DAMPPROOFING AND WATERPROOFING .......................................... - 64 SECTION 1807 – FOUNDATION WALLS, RETAINING WALLS AND
EMBEDDED POSTS AND POLES ........................................................................... - 64 SECTION 1808 - FOUNDATONS ........................................................................................... - 65 SECTION 1809 – SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS ..................................................................... - 65 CHAPTER 23 .......................................................................................................................................... - 68 WOOD - 68 SECTION 2306 – ALLOWABLE STRESS DESIGN .............................................................. - 68 SECTION 2308 – Conventional Light-Frame Construction ...................................................... - 71 -4-

CHAPTER 40 .......................................................................................................................................... - 72 Ventura County Provisions ...................................................................................................................... - 72 for Strawbale Construction....................................................................................................................... - 72 Section 40.1 – General Provisions for Strawbale Construction ................................................. - 72 Section 40.2 – Scope and Application ....................................................................................... - 72 Section 40.3 – Definitions.......................................................................................................... - 72 Section 40.4 – Material Requirements ....................................................................................... - 73 Section 40.5 – general construction requirements ..................................................................... - 73 Section 40.6 – Foundation and anchorage requirements ............................................................ - 73 Section 40.7 – Wall assemblies and Moisture control ............................................................... - 74 Section 40.8 – Bale Surfaces...................................................................................................... - 75 Section 40.9 – Electrical and plumbing Requirements .............................................................. - 76 CHAPTER 41 .......................................................................................................................................... - 77 Provisions for construction, use and occupancy of .................................................................................. - 77 Limited-Density Owner-Built Rural Dwelling Units ............................................................................... - 77 Section 41.1 Purpose. ................................................................................................................. - 77 SECTION 41.2 Intent and Application. ..................................................................................... - 77 SECTION 41.3 Definitions. ....................................................................................................... - 77 SECTION 41.4 Regulation of Use ............................................................................................. - 78 SECTION 41.5 Abatement of Substandard Buildings ............................................................... - 78 SECTION 41.6 Petitions for Interpretations. ............................................................................. - 78 SECTION 41.7 Recording ......................................................................................................... - 78 SECTION 41.8 Violations ......................................................................................................... - 78 SECTION 41.9 Permits ............................................................................................................. - 78 SECTION 41.10 Application ..................................................................................................... - 79 SECTION 41.11 Plans ............................................................................................................... - 80 SECTION 41.12 Waiver of Plans .............................................................................................. - 80 SECTION 41.13 Modifications ................................................................................................. - 80 SECTION 41.14 Permit Validity ............................................................................................... - 80 SECTION 41.15 Inspections ..................................................................................................... - 80 SECTION 41.16 Special Inspections ......................................................................................... - 80 SECTION 41.17 Inspection Waivers ......................................................................................... - 80 SECTION 41.18 Inspection Requests and Notice ..................................................................... - 81 SECTION 41.19 Certificate of Occupancy ................................................................................ - 81 SECTION 41.20 Temporary Occupancy ................................................................................... - 81 SECTION 41.21 Fees ................................................................................................................ - 81 SECTION 41.22 General Requirements .................................................................................... - 81 SECTION 41.23 Intent of General Requirements ..................................................................... - 81 SECTION 41.24 Technical Codes to Be a Basis of Approval ................................................... - 81 SECTION 41.25 Mechanical Requirements .............................................................................. - 82 SECTION 41.26 Electrical Requirements ................................................................................. - 82 SECTION 41.27 Installation Requirements ............................................................................... - 82 SECTION 41.28 Plumbing Requirements ................................................................................. - 82 CHAPTER 42 .......................................................................................................................................... - 83 RELOCATED BUILDINGS AND TEMPORARY STRUCTURES ...................................................... - 83 SECTION 42.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................... - 83 SECTION 42.2. PERMIT(S) REQUIRED ................................................................................ - 83 SECTION 42.3. APPLICATION AND INVESTIGATION FEE ............................................. - 83 SECTION 42.4. INVESTIGATION AND REPORT ................................................................ - 84 SECTION 42.5. DENIAL OF PERMIT .................................................................................... - 84 SECTION 42.6. SECURITY REQUIRED ................................................................................ - 84 SECTION 42.7. CONDITIONS OF SECURITY ...................................................................... - 85 SECTION 42.8. PERMIT ISSUANCE AND FEES .................................................................. - 85 SECTION 42.9. EXPIRATION OF PERMIT ........................................................................... - 85 -5-

SECTION 42.10 PROCEDURE UPON DEFAULT ................................................................. - 85 SECTION 42.11 RELEASE OF SECURITY ............................................................................ - 86 CHAPTER 43 .......................................................................................................................................... - 87 SWIMMING POOLS, ORNAMENTAL POOLS, .................................................................................. - 87 AND APPURTENANT FENCING ......................................................................................................... - 87 SECTION 43.2 - DEFINITIONS............................................................................................... - 87 SECTION 43.3. POOL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION .................................................... - 88 SECTION 43.4 DECKS............................................................................................................. - 89 SECTION 43.5 DRAINAGE AND DISPOSAL ....................................................................... - 90 SECTION 43.6 SPECIAL INSPECTION ................................................................................. - 90 SECTION 43.7 BARRIER REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................... - 90 CHAPTER 44 .......................................................................................................................................... - 92 MOBILEHOMES AND COMMERCIAL COACHES ........................................................................... - 92 SECTION 44.1. DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................... - 92 SECTION 44.2. SCOPE ........................................................................................................... - 92 SECTION 44.3. INSTALLATION PERMIT REQUIRED ...................................................... - 92 SECTION 44.4. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, COMMERCIAL COACHES ....................... - 92 SECTION 44.5. REQUIREMENTS IN FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES ...................... - 92 SECTION 44.6. SUBSTANDARD OR DANGEROUS MOBILEHOMES AND
COMMERCIAL COACHES....................................................................................... - 93 SECTION 44.7 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES ....................................................................... - 94 SECTION 44.7.2 – ALLOWABLE USE .................................................................................. - 94 CHAPTER 45 .......................................................................................................................................... - 95 POST-DISASTER RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION ............................................................... - 95 SECTION 45.1 – POST-DISASTER SAFETY ASSESSMENT PLACARDS AND
SECURITY.................................................................................................................. - 95 SECTION 45.1.3 – DEFINITIONS. .......................................................................................... - 95 SECTION 45.2 – POST DISASTER ABATEMENT ............................................................... - 96 SECTION 45.2.4 ABATEMENT CRITERIA .......................................................................... - 96 SECTION 45.2.5 HAZARD ABATEMENT OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS OR
STRUCTURES............................................................................................................ - 98 SECTION 45.3 – DISASTER REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION ...................................... - 99 SECTION 45.3.2 APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS. ............................................................ - 99 SECTION 45.3.4 REPAIR CRITERIA .................................................................................. - 100 SECTION 45.3.5 REPAIR CRITERIA FOR FIREPLACES AND CHIMNEYS. ................. - 100 SECTION 45.3.6 REPAIR CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS OR
STRUCTURES.......................................................................................................... - 101 SECTION 45.3.7 REPAIR CRITERIA FOR UNREINFORCED MASONRY
BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. ......................................................................... - 101 APPENDIX C ........................................................................................................................................ - 102 AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS .......................................................................................................... - 102 SECTION C102 - CONSTRUCTION, HEIGHT AND ALLOWABLE AREA ..................... - 102 APPENDIX J GRADING ...................................................................................................................... - 103 SECTION J101 – GENERAL.................................................................................................. - 103 SECTION J102 - DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................ - 104 SECTION J103 - PERMITS REQUIRED ............................................................................... - 109 SECTION J104 - GRADING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS ................................................... - 112 SECTION J105 - PERMIT APPLICATION AND SUBMITTALS ........................................ - 115 SECTION J106 - INSPECTIONS ........................................................................................... - 116 SECTION J107 - EXCAVATIONS ........................................................................................ - 119 SECTION J108 - FILLS .......................................................................................................... - 119 SECTION J109 – SETBACKS ................................................................................................ - 122 SECTION J110 - DRAINAGE AND TERRACING ............................................................... - 123 SECTION J111 - SLOPE PLANTING AND EROSION CONTROL .................................... - 124 -6-

SECTION J112 - NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION
SYSTEM (NPDES) COMPLIANCE. ....................................................................... - 125 SECTION J113 - REFERENCED STANDARDS .................................................................. - 126 SECTION J114 - HAZARDS/PUBLIC HAZARDS .............................................................. - 127 ARTICLE 5 ......................................................................................................................................................... - 130 AMENDMENTS TO THE ................................................................................................................................. - 130 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE (CEC)................................................................................................. - 130 ARTICLE 90 - INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... - 130 SECTION 90.4.1 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL ...................... - 130 ARTICLE 6 ......................................................................................................................................................... - 131 AMENDMENTS TO THE ................................................................................................................................. - 131 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE (CMC) .............................................................................................. - 131 ARTICLE 7 ......................................................................................................................................................... - 132 AMENDMENTS TO THE ................................................................................................................................. - 132 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE (CPC) ..................................................................................................... - 132 CHAPTER 2 - DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................................. - 132 SECTION 221.0 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................. - 132 Section 303 – disposal of liquid waste ..................................................................................... - 132 CHAPTER 6 .......................................................................................................................................... - 133 WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION ........................................................................................... - 133 SECTION 601.0 – RUNNING WATER REQUIRED ............................................................ - 133 CHAPTER 7 .......................................................................................................................................... - 134 SANITARY DRAINAGE ...................................................................................................................... - 134 SECTION 713.0 SEWER REQUIRED .................................................................................. - 134 SECTION 714.0 - DAMAGE TO PUBLIC SEWER OR PRIVATE SEWAGE
DISPOSAL SYSTEM ............................................................................................... - 134 SECTION 721.0 - LOCATION ............................................................................................... - 134 APPENDIX CHAPTER H ..................................................................................................................... - 135 PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM ......................................................................................... - 135 H 1.0 PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ............................ - 135 H 3.0 AREA OF DISPOSAL FIELDS AND SEEPAGE PITS .............................................. - 135 H 4.0 PERCOLATION TESTS .............................................................................................. - 136 H 7.0 SEEPAGE PITS ............................................................................................................ - 136 H 9.0 SUBSURFACE DISPOSAL OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE ........................................... - 138 H 13.0 ALTERNATE PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS ................................... - 138 H 14.0 NONHAZARDOUS LIQUID WASTE TRANSFER FACILITIES............................ - 140 H15.0 CLUSTERED SYSTEMS ............................................................................................. - 141 ARTICLE 8 ............................................................................................................................................ - 147 AMENDMENTS TO THE..................................................................................................................... - 147 UNIFORM HOUSING CODE (UHC)................................................................................................... - 147 CHAPTER 1 – TITLE AND SCOPE..................................................................................................... - 147 SECTION 104 – APPLICATION TO EXISTING BUILDINGS AND
STRUCTURES.......................................................................................................... - 147 CHAPTER 2 – ENFORCEMENT ......................................................................................................... - 147 SECTION 203 – APPEALS BOARD ..................................................................................... - 147 SECTION 204 – VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. See Article 2, Chapter 1,
Section 114 in this Code. ........................................................................................... - 147 CHAPTER 3 – PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS .................................................................................. - 147 SECTION 302 – FEES. Refer to Article 2, Chapter 1, Section 109 in this Code. .................. - 147 CHAPTER 10 – SUBSTANDARD BUILDINGS ................................................................................. - 147 SECTION 1001 – DEFINITION ............................................................................................. - 147 CHAPTER 12 – APPEAL...................................................................................................................... - 149 SECTION 1201 – GENERAL ................................................................................................. - 149 CHAPTER 14 – ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDER OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL OR
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THE BOARD OF APPEALS .................................................................................................. - 149 SECTION 1401 – COMPLIANCE .......................................................................................... - 149 ARTICLE 9 ......................................................................................................................................................... - 150 AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFORM CODE FOR ...................................................................................... - 150 THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS (DBC) ....................................................................... - 150 CHAPTER 1 – TITLE AND SCOPE..................................................................................................... - 150 SECTION 104 – GENERAL AMENDMENTS. ..................................................................... - 150 CHAPTER 2 – ENFORCEMENT ......................................................................................................... - 150 SECTION 203 – VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. ............................................................. - 150 SECTION 205 – APPEALS BOARD. .................................................................................... - 150 CHAPTER 5 – APPEAL........................................................................................................................ - 150 SECTION 501 – GENERAL ................................................................................................... - 150 CHAPTER 7 – ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDER OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL OR
THE BOARD OF APPEALS .................................................................................................. - 150 SECTION 701 – COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................ - 150 ARTICLE 10 ....................................................................................................................................................... - 151 AMENDMENTS TO APPENDIX CHAPTER A1 OF THE .......................................................................... - 151 2013 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE (CEBC) ....................................................................... - 151 APPENDIX CHAPTER A1 - SEISMIC STRENGTHENING PROVISIONS FOR
UNREINFORCED MASONRY BEARING WALL BUILDINGS ........................................ - 151 SECTION A101 – PURPOSE ................................................................................................. - 151 SECTION A103 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................. - 151 A103.3 Administration. ........................................................................................................... - 152 -

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